Question of the Week: 109 - 5/7/2003The Broom Closet Revisited: What’s Your Current Occupancy Rate?Are you living more or less in the broom closet since last year? Does the current political climate make you more or less open about your beliefs with strangers or casual acquaintances than you used to be?

Are you worried or have you ever seriously considered that a modern day ‘witch hunt’ might target Pagans in the next few months/years?

Have you taken extra precautions to protect your private information or Pagan identity on the internet? At work? In your neighborhood?

Are you more or less inclined to speak up and/or identify yourself as a Pagan when discussing or writing about political, religious or social issues these days?

I'm afraid I'm still in the broom closet. Or at least somewhat. My parents would kill me, they've already said I could not do it. I do not tell people I am Pagan, but Agnostic. In all discussions where God has come up, I've openly mentioned that I do not believe in him, and I'd debate with anybody that tells me otherwise, because I love to hear their opinions, and I like to see what points they bring out of me; I've corrected anybody who believes misconceptions, but I'm still in the closet.

I've never been afraid of letting everyone know who I am. I've been practicing since I was 13. I did my self-initiation when I was 17. (the day I graduated from high school) Now, I'm just looking for a teacher. I see no reason to hide my faith. It's okay to be a pagan. NO! It's better than okay. It's great. So, come out of your broom closet's ladies and gents. It's better to out yourself than to have someone else out you. Besides, should you let someone else tell you that it's okay or not to be proud of who you are?

I am 100 percent out of the broom closet, but ... nowadays I am more hesitant to answer people who ask my religion. I honestly cannot say why. My parents know, but continue to pretend that it's an extremely long phase. :)

When acquaintances ask my religion, I sort of stare at them for a moment before answer. More often than not I do identify myself as a Pagan, but a couple times I've just stuck with the term "athiest". It's ...simpler, I guess, and I don't get weird looks!

I don't worry about another Witch hunt ... well, at least not yet. Around here, I don't think things are so bad. But if I lived in a really small town, ... I'd be worried, I think. And when talking about politcal issues, I do identify myself as Pagan. I feel like I have to speak up, ya know?

I am a freshman in high school with a very odd situation. I am completely open about Wicca to everyone except for my immediate family. My mom is a Christian minister, my dad is a professor of religion, and my brother is entirely untrustworthy. They think the ankh I wear is because I like ancient Egyptian art and they don't even know I have a blog. As soon as I decided to follow this path (about a year ago, after two years of research) , I told all of my friends, posted it on my blog, etc. Online, I participate in Wiccan chatrooms and discussion boards and have a pentagram at the top of my blog. Whenever a religious topic comes up in a discussion with acquaintences, I mention that I am a Witch. They are mostly more curious than anything else ("You're a WHAT? Can you cast a spell for me? Do you really worship the devil?") and are quite happy to be educated-- or not, depending on my mood. Even my very Christian friends respect my beliefs absolutely. Anyone who doesn't accept your religion is simply not worth knowing or talking to. It is unfortunate that my parents fall into this category, but I will tell them as soon as I am financially independent of them. I would also like to join an out-of-the-broom-closet coven at that point, but until then, I am solitary and have wonderful non-Wiccan friends at school and Wiccan friends online.Blessed Be, KiraPS Sorry this is so long, I got carried away! First post here!

I must admit that I am in and out. My family and friends know. I made the mistake at my last job to mention my religious persuasion to someone whom I counted as a friend. I was laid off from that job shortly afterwards. I don't feel the need anymore to justify my personal path to others, unless it has to do with losing our personal freedoms; then I will stand and be counted.

If I am asked about my religion, I will gladly discuss it with anyone as long as they are respectful and not just looking to taunt me. I have a two year old and want to shield her from any harm. I fear for her safety, not my own. I don't feel that there will be another witch-hunt per se; I see it more as a persecution of anything non-christian.

I have a strange status: I work as an advocate for a Pagan organization, so I am very open online, but people in my local area aside from other Pagans generally don't know that I am a Witch. I don't feel the need to advertise, and I do not believe that it is wise to do as a mother of a small child in Oklahoma. Since I have had a child I am much more wary of exposing my beliefs to strangers, and truthfully, I am not the kind of person to pull a punch if someone were to verbally attack me in public, and I have the educational background that can make me quite formidable in both debate and personal insults. So instead of placing myself in a situation that will quite probably degenerate into name calling, I just keep my yap shut in most cases.The current political climate, nationally now reflects where most Oklahoman Pagans have been for some time. So the national issue just drove the already existing point home.

Everytime John Ashcroft appears in the media with some new assault on civil liberties I worry about Witch Hunts, McCarthy-ism, National-Socialist issues, Jingoism, and redneck fatheads who don't know what those words mean.

I have taken extra percautions with my location and all but not because of the national issues, but because of the openly hostile nature of DHS and the court systems towards NeoPaganism. I have chosen to disassociate myself from my father's side of the family. When I was 7 months pregnant, an aunt I had not seen in many years walked up to me and informed me that she had heard from an uncle that I was a Devil-Worshipper. I have no desire to even deal with that, and these people are redneck fatheads, so I avoid them and I do not contact them or let them know where I live. After all it only takes one phone call to DHS to have a child removed, and these people are petty and mean enough to do it.

I readily identify myself at school, when discussing things in class. I even appear as a guest speaker in some humanities and sociology classes.

I've gone through a few stages in the past five years since I've discovered Wicca. First I was overjoyed to discover this fantastic new religion and couldn't see why anyone would object to it. What a nieve 12 year old I was! I was taunted at school for wearing my pentacle and quickly stopped wearing it. I was so upset I actually stopped researching for a year. But I was inevitably drawn back to it again. At first I was very much in the closet. Only my close family had any idea. But then I discovered the wonderful tool of the internet and have met with many people, attended a few local events and learned of stores in my area that I didn't even know existed. I begin to realize that I was not alone.

I began to wear my pentacle from time to time, but was extremely self concious about it. Then I noticed something. I had a few (and still have) some odd looks and Satanism-related comments, but mostly, ppl don't seem to care all that much! Trust me people, its not as scary as it first seems. I even have got some "Hey that's so cool" remarks.

I've learned to not be bothered when people look twice at my neckless and raise thier eyebrows. Its my faith and I shouldn't have to hide. I view it this way; If they don't know at least then I'm educating them. If more of us are "visible" than the symbol of our religion will become a non-issue, and a higher % the public will be educated that Wicca is not a bad thing.

We need to support one another better. As someone else else has pointed out. Wiccans can be hard to track down! You really have to work at it to make connections with other people. When I was first starting to reach out to the community, as a young Pagan searching for answers, I got VERY few responses. Those I did recieve were from other youth Pagans. I have found that us youngin's have to fend for ourselves. I'm not sure if it is because the older generation thinks that we are too young and inept. I'm sure some are, I have encountered a few! But what about the rest of us? Our community will crumble if we don't stick together and help each other out.

I live deep in the bible belt where you can do a mile without running into a church. I don't go out of my way to hide my beliefs, but I don't volunteer the information. I often wear my pentacle, but will slip it inside my shirt when going to my children's school. I have an altar in my living room that I don't put up when company comes. I perform rituals in my backyard, but don't wear a robe. My books are everywhere in my house. I happily smile at people when looking at books at the local bookstore while they stare at my selections. If I didn't have children I would be totally out of the broom closet, but I don't trust the school system not to discrimate against them. Do I fear a Witch Hunt? Yes, considering Bush is President and the things he says and does. Islam is his target now, but if he and his kind have their way, anything not christian will be targeted.

I'm an in-your-face Leo who pretty much wears her pentacle whenever she leaves the house. While I've gotten a few strange looks (but that might just be b/c I have bright, in-your-face, two-toned hair) , not many people actually ask and/or comment. And if they do, I tell them w/o apology that it's a symbol of my faith. I have no fear and if the public at large has a problem with it, I tell them, "When YOU start paying MY bills, then you can tell me how to live my life." I've had the occasional Jehovah Witless - yes, I intentionally spelled it that way - come to my door, whereupon I tell them that I'm a Witch, and if they don't get off my property, I'll turn them into toads! (Always good for a laugh.)

I thought 10 years ago that eventually I would be able to walk around proudly as a Wiccan. I lived in the bible belt of East Tennessee and knew there was no chance there, relocation would surely be the answer!! When I moved to Florida I thought I would be able to open the closet door a bit, maybe even walk into the fresh sea air. Surprise... it's getting stuffy in here. Thanks to "The Witches Voice" site I have had the opportunity to SEE many names, groups, and events. I know there are pagans "out there". Research done, names found, emails sent.....NO RESPONSES!! What?? Pagans are "down to earth" people. We like people, new people even, right?.....I do. No time to answer an email?? I went to one gathering when I first moved here. Was well received, liked everyone there, had a great time. Called them a month later, they were gone, never to return. So here I am sending emails, going to any shop with a candle in it, hoping to meet someone, ANYONE who will give me a smile and say "are you pagan, so am I, lets talk". The point I am trying to make is I think part of our staying in the broom closet is our own doing. If we cannot communicate to individuals, how do we ever expect to communicate to the community as a whole. We need to take a chance. We don't have to start by announcing at the next board meeting that "I am wiccan an' some things are gonna' change around here". But we could try to be a little more friendly. We will forever walk around with our pentagrams tucked in our shirts, wondering if someone might notice that we don't go to church, or cringe at the word christian?? Or will we be proud of who we are?? --- Bright Blessings Kalaah

I am out of the broom closet at work and with my immediate family (wife & kids) . The rest of my family and other people have no need to know what are my personal beliefs. I do not advertise myself to others, but neither do I deny my belief if I am asked. I am Pagan and proud of my beliefs. Luckily the place I work at does not discriminate. I even have some fun inter-faith humor with my co-workers. A very good place to work.

We all can understand that nagging feeling of being in the closet. It is stifling, hot, and quite frankly unbearable. Wherever you go there is a 'Bible Belt', and YOU happen to be in the middle of it. I say half/half because my immediate families are aware of my being Wiccan, the public of my town isn't aware of it as yet. Pretty soon that is about to change. I am a member of The Church of the Crescent Moon. We just formed last year, meeting new and interesting people. I have strong communication and people skills, so naturally when we as a coven step out of the closet; I MUST be there to publicaly speak about our group. It initially will not be easy, it never is. Thank goodness that I have now come to a big spiritual point in my life. But I remember those days very vividly, and will use those as an example for my daughter. For the most part, I feel it isn't anyone's true business what religion I am. However I do answer questions when strangers come up to me. No I haven't worn my pentacle outside of home and coven meetings. But it will happen sooner or later. THe one thing that I will be glad for, as I age, I gain wisdom. I have noticed more older pagans/wiccans being more open and out. That is a totally awesome feeling! When youre young, no one cares what a "young hooligan" thinks. I don't think or even worry about a modern burning of our 'people'. Because right now, all eyes are on Islam. I am out, I am proud, I am humble.

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